Battle of Żurawno

Battle of Żurawno
Part of Polish-Ottoman War (1672–1676)

Zurawno monument
Date25 September – 14 October 1676
Location
Żurawno, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth
(Present-day Zhuravno, Ukraine)
Result See § Aftermath
Treaty of Żurawno
Belligerents
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Poland-Lithuania
Cossack Hetmanate Cossack Hetmanate		 Ottoman Empire
Crimean Khanate
Commanders and leaders
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth John III Sobieski Ibrahim-pasha "the devil"
Ahmed Pasha[1]
Selim I Giray
Strength
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth 15,000–30,000[a] 20,000–50,000[b]
Casualties and losses
Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Heavy[1] Heavy

Battle of Żurawno took place between 25 September and 14 October 1676, during the war Polish-Ottoman War (1672–1676).[4] The battle ended in negotiations for peace; the treaty of Żurawno was signed in its aftermath.[3]

Prelude

In late August 1676, a large Ottoman-Tatar army of some 20-50,000 entered the southern Polish province of Pokucie.[2][3] Invaders were faced by Jan III Sobieski, who had 15-30,000 soldiers.[2][3][1]

Grand Vizier’s illness hindered the peace negotiations. In August, the Turkish army crossed the Dniester via the reconstructed Khotyn-Kamianets bridge. After securing provisions, the Ottoman forces merged with the Crimean army and encamped near Bari River. Ibrahim Shaitan Pasha placed the lands of Pokuttya and Podolia under the administration of Voivode Duca, bringing the local Orthodox population under Ottoman rule. Meanwhile, discontent grew among the Janissaries, who complained that while they were on campaign, the Sultan was occupied with hunting and the Grand Vizier remained in Constantinople.[2] During negotiations with Polish envoys, whose delegation had changed six times, Ibrahim Pasha received word that Jan Sobieski’s army had routed a thousand-strong Tatar detachment near Mogilev, putting them to flight. Following this, Ibrahim lashed out at the envoys with reproaches, and it became evident that no peace agreement would be reached. He ordered his cavalry to pursue the Polish forces and engaged in battle on September 27.[2]

Battle

The Polish camp was protected from two sides by the Dniestr river, while in its front was the Krechowka river. Tatar forces under Selim I Giray concentrated around it by 26 September, while Ottoman units under Ibrahim Shishman arrived there on 28–29 September. On September 28, an inconclusive battle took place between the Polish-Lithuanian and Ottoman-Tatar forces. From late September until October 7, Ottoman batteries advanced daily toward the Polish camp, inflicting significant casualties. A fierce cavalry engagement occurred on October 8 between the Polish hussars and the Ottoman cavalry; as a result, the Ottomans advanced further, forcing the Poles to retreat into new trenches and destroy their old fortifications on October 12–13.[3]

Polish army found itself in a dire situation: forage and food supplies were nearly exhausted, desertion was widespread, and troop morale had weakened. Nevertheless, the commander remained optimistic and encouraged his men. The situation shifted due to heavy rain and hail, which forced the Ottomans to halt their offensive. Krekhivka River rose continuously, eventually threatening the Ottoman camp itself. Both sides compelled to conclude a peace treaty.[3] Siege of Zurawno continued until 14 October. Although the Ottomans suffered great losses, the Polish side was also severely affected. The effectiveness of the Ottoman tactics led to a twenty-day blockade, after which the Polish forces, having suffered losses, were forced to conclude the Treaty of Zurawno.[1]

Aftermath

On 14 October a truce was signed, and three days later the Treaty of Zurawno was signed, ending the second phase of the Polish–Ottoman War (1672–76). Under the peace treaty, the ailing Ahmed Pasha succeeded in securing favorable terms. All of Podolia, including Kamenets-Podolsky, was ceded to the Ottoman Empire, while Right-bank Ukraine was to remain independent of both the Polish King and the Sultan. However, Ukraine maintained its pro-Turkish orientation, a status that was later contested during the War with Russia. The Poles also agreed to recognize the Sultan's sovereignty over the Zaporozhian territories beyond the rapids. This final condition solidified the Sultan's policy toward Ukraine. Ahmed Pasha Köprülü, in his final days, was deeply satisfied with the outcome of this, his last treaty.[1]

Results

Some sources call this a stalemate,[5] while others call it a victory for the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth[6] or Ottoman Empire.[7][1]

Influence

In 1876, on the 200th anniversary of the battle, the Polish population of Zurawno founded a commemorative monument to celebrate the halt of the Ottoman advance into Eastern Europe.

Notes

  1. ↑ According to Turkish historian Hammer-Purgstall John Sobieski had 15,000 troops and 86 cannons.[2] Polish Historian Wojciech Kalwat rated size of Polish army as 18,000 men.[3] Another version is 30,000 total troops.[1]

    In Total: 15-30,000 infantry and cavalry
  2. ↑ Ibrahim army numbered 20,000 people including Jannisaries and unknown cavalry, which had 80 cannons.[2] Historian Allen remained silent on the size of the Ottoman army,[1] whereas Wojciech Kalwat is 50,000 Ottoman troops before campaign.[3]

    Total: c. 20-50,000 Ottoman-Tatar army

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Allen 1940, p. 168.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hammer-Purgstall 1840, p. 684.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Żórawno – 1676 - w oblężonym obozie". www.wilanow-palac.pl. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  4. ↑ Hötte, Hans H. A. (20 March 2015). Atlas of Southeast Europe: Geopolitics and History. Volume One: 1521-1699. BRILL. p. 105. ISBN 978-90-04-28888-1.
  5. ↑ Davies 2007, p. 157.
  6. ↑ Woźniak-Bobińska, Marta; Solarz, Anna M. (5 March 2018). WPROWADZENIE DO POLITYKI ZAGRANICZNEJ muzułmańskich państw Bliskiego Wschodu i Afryki Północnej (in Polish). Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar. p. 134. ISBN 978-83-7383-919-9.
  7. ↑ Nechitailov & Velikanov 2020, p. 15.

==Sources==

  • Davies, Brian L. (2007). Warfare, State and Society on the Black Sea steppe, 1500—1700. London: Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN 978-0-203-96176-6.
  • Nechitailov, Maxim; Velikanov, Vladimir (2020). Щит и меч султана: армия Османского государства в конце XVI-XVII [Shield and sword of the Sultan: the army of the Ottoman State at the end of XVI-XVII]. Ratnoe delo (in Russian). Moscow: Russkie vityazy. ISBN 978-5-907245-05-1.
  • Allen, W.E.D. (1940). The Ukraine A History. London: CUP Archive. ISBN 978-1107641860. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  • Hammer-Purgstall, Joseph, Freiherr Von (1840). Geschichte des osmanischen Reiches, Grossentheils aus bisher unbenützen Handschriften und Archiven. Pest: Pesth : C. A. Hartleben. ISBN 978-0366602872. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

49°15′N 24°14′E / 49.250°N 24.233°E / 49.250; 24.233

This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.